UIL regional semifinal baseball: Which Fort Worth-area teams advanced?
The UIL Texas high school baseball regional semifinals are here.
See which Fort Worth-area teams are moving on to regional finals.
Keller sweeps Hebron behind Koeninger, Burkett
Keller got a strong pitching performance from Cole Koeninger and a clutch home run from Brock Burkett as the Indians defeated Hebron 7-1 in Game 2 to sweep the regional semifinal series on Friday, May 17, at the Coppell Baseball/Softball Complex.
Keller (31-8) awaits the winner of the Mansfield Legacy (24-10)-Prosper (29-8-1) series. Prosper defeated Legacy 4-1 in Game 2 on Friday, May 17, to force a Game 3 that is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, at Kelly Field in Carrollton.
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Koeninger started the game to a chorus of ‘over rated’ chants from the Hebron student section, but the junior answered the taunts by striking out the first five batters that he face. Koeninger went 5+ innings allowing one run on two hits with four walks and 11 strikeouts.
“It felt great,” said Koeninger, who has already committed to play at Tennessee. “There was a lot of energy in the crowd, but I had to shut them up a little bit.”
Reid Russell came on to get the final six outs for the Indians.
With one out and a runner on second in the top of the third, Hebron intentionally walked Koeninger, who also leads off for Keller. Brock Burkett followed and promptly blasted a ball over the right field fence, hitting a bus in the Coppell ISD bus barn, giving the Indians a 3-0 lead.
“It’s happened all year and I’ve not been real proud of what I’ve been able to do after him being intentionally walked,” said Burkett, a junior. “Tonight I told myself that it’s gonna change. I gotta get out in front and do some damage and get up for my guys.”
Keller scored four more times in the fourth on three singles and error and a walk. The big blow was hard grounded single up the middle by Bach Hartwig that plated two.
“These guys just play so well together, they play as a group,” said Keller coach Rob Stramp. “There’s no egos and they’re actually a pretty loose bunch. They’re just a really fun group to be with.”
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Southlake Carroll rallies late to sweep Denton Guyer
Southlake Carroll scored twice in the top of the sixth to take the lead and then held off Denton Guyer 3-2 in Game 2 to sweep the Class 6A Division 2 regional semifinal on Friday, May 16, at Guyer High School.
Carroll (30-7-1), No. 2 in the state in Class 6A, will face either district foe Trophy Club Nelson (25-11-1) or Flower Mound Marcus (27-10) in the regional final next week. Marcus defeated Byron Nelson 6-2 on Friday, May 16, to force a Game 3 that is scheduled for noon on Saturday, May 17, at Dallas Baptist University.
The Dragons got a bases loaded walk in the sixth from Cam Dean to tie the game 2-2. Tanner Carson followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to take the lead for good.
Dean, who went 2-for-3 with a walk, drove in another run in the second on an infield single to short that plated Max Wu.
Ethan Baiotto went six strong innings for the Dragons allowing two runs while scattering six hits with four walks and 10 strikeouts.
Grapevine rolls past Wylie in Class 5A Division II bracket
The 2024 Class 5A state champions have galloped their way to another deep playoff run.
Grapevine, the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association’s No. 1 ranked Class 5A team, defeated Wylie 4-0 to end Class 5A Division II regional semifinal series in two games on Friday, May 16, at Steer Field. Grapevine, with a 4-0 victory in game one, didn’t allow a run in the series.
The Mustangs’ pitching was dominant. Freshman Luke Esquivel allowed two hits and notched eight strikeouts in game one, and his brother, Lale Esquivel, allowed three hits and one walk with five strikeouts in game two.
In the Class 5A Division II Region One final, Grapevine will face Lubbock Cooper (30-14) or Argyle (18-12-1). If Argyle advances, the Mustangs and Eagles will meet in the regional final once again — Grapevine got the upper hand in 2024.
Aledo thrashes down Amarillo, advances in Class 5A Division I
Bearcat baseball, after a walk-off win on Thursday, made sure the pressure was off in the final moments of a Class 5A Division I regional semifinal series.
Aledo (29-7) smoked Amarillo (24-13-1) 15-2 on Friday, May 16, at Iowa Park High School, ending the game in five innings. The offensive onslaught started with seven runs through two innings, and the Bearcats put the game out of reach by adding seven runs in the fifth inning.
Landon Barnes dove in four runs off three hits, which included a double and a home run. Noah Graham hit a grand slam in the fifth, helping extend the Bearcats’ sizable lead.
Dylan Duran was another key contributor with two hits and three RBIs. Five Bearcats finished with multiple hits: Duran, Graham, Barnes, Brooks Burdine and Luke Trager.
In the regional finals, Aledo will face Colleyville Heritage (22-11-1).
Colleyville Heritage walks off El Paso Americas to advance
After a decisive 10-2 win in game one, Colleyville Heritage (22-11-1) needed one win from Friday’s Class 5A Division I regional final doubleheader at Odessa High School to advance.
In game two, the Panthers suffered a 5-4 loss to set up a winner-take-all game three. America’s offense added four runs in the seventh to shock Heritage, but soon Colleyville Heritage would seize redemption.
The Panthers started strong with four runs in the first inning. After a four-run frame from Americas in the sixth, Colleyville Heritage was down a run in the seventh inning.
With the season on the line, Colleyville Heritage’s Regan Kelley delivered. He was the walk-off hero, hitting a single and driving in two runs to win the ballgame and the series. In the regional finals, the Panthers will face Aledo (29-7).
This story was originally published May 16, 2025 at 7:05 PM.
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